Here are the stories that drove conversation today:

Ben Murray-Bruce calls for population control to reduce poverty

“What’s our population control policy? Does anybody care how many children we have? Does anybody care how many we ought to have? How many children make up an economy functional, nobody cares. So, we all talk about issues to avoid what is truly important, population control policy.”

Those were the words of Ben Murray-Bruce as he addressed his colleagues at the Senate plenary on Wednesday. Murray-Bruce was contributing to a motion calling for the creation of jobs to avoid a violent revolution by poor Nigerians.

Inaugurating Buhari on June 12 won’t make 2019 election credible – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tuesday, said shifting the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office from the traditional May 29 to June 12, will not conferred legitimacy on the 2019 election. The party stated this in a reaction to a statement from the Presidency that the big day would hold on June 12, a day Nigerians trooped out to elect Moshood Kashimawo Olawale, MKO, Abiola in 1993 in a free and fair manner.

Court nullifies appointment of new emirs in Kano

A Kano State High Court sitting in Ungogo local govt area has declared the appointment and the installation of four new emirs by the Kano State government as null and void.

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano had created four new Emirate Councils with first Class Emirs in Karaye, Gaya, Rano and Bichi a development that brought about heated controversy.

Buhari off to Saudi Arabia

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to travel to Saudi Arabia Thursday. A statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said Mr Buhari is travelling at the request of the Saudi king to perform an Islamic function called Umrah: “President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in the Kingdom.”

Senate panel endorses Emefiele for second term, dismisses ‘stolen’ N500bn allegation

The senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions has approved of a second term for Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). While screening Emefiele on Wednesday, members of the committee dismissed the allegations of stolen N500 billion at the apex bank. Rafiu Ibrahim, its chairman, said the allegations were targeted at “bringing you (Emefiele) down because you are  a good person”.